Rivian invests in 3D printing

Rivian is expanding its use of 3D printing in its laboratories in Michigan and its Normal plant in Illinois to speed up the development of its upcoming electric vehicles. The company is investing millions of dollars in additive manufacturing, which is becoming a regular tool for engineers in both technical offices and on assembly lines.

Funding for 3D printing expansion

Rivian has committed over 5 million dollars, or about 4.6 million euros, to an industrial 3D printer park, with an additional 1.7 million dollars per year for raw materials. According to Jonathan Dankenbring, head of additive manufacturing, the company is working to make 3D printing accessible across the entire organization, with savings in the millions of dollars compared to traditional methods.

Benefits of 3D printing

The use of 3D printing allows Rivian to reduce tooling costs, limit transportation, and decrease delays from weeks to days or even hours. Teams print nearly 90 pounds of material daily across different American sites, with around 86% of requests delivered within five days or less.

Early use of 3D printing

In Michigan, Rivian first used 3D printing at a smaller scale, including the steering wheel of the future Rivian R2, which was initially 3D printed before becoming a final metal part. Similar approaches were used for engines, screw guides, stamping press inserts, and trim parts.

Expanding 3D printing in Illinois

Rivian is now expanding its 3D printing capabilities in its Normal plant, where it is installing a full range of machines, including printers capable of producing parts in flexible silicone. This allows teams to produce parts on demand as close to the production line as possible.

Industry-wide adoption

Other manufacturers, including Tesla, Ford, and General Motors, have also adopted similar processes, but at Rivian, this approach is becoming a structural axis of the industrial strategy.